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“They’ll be safe soon. I can carry one cage. You use that trolley to move the other one.”

Georgia grabbed some covers heaped on top of the crates and placed them over the cages. “We’ll put them in that corridor where we found the escape hatch. I doubt the Siblet will look down there before they bug out. It was empty when we went that way. We can come back for them once we’ve dealt with the rest of the Siblet.”

Ash checked the corridor was clear before they hurried along with the animals. He carried a cage in front of him, while Georgia followed behind with her prize.

The white tails didn’t make a sound. Maybe they realized how precarious their situation was and didn’t want to make things worse. Most likely, they were in shock. He hoped they survived. He’d hate to let Georgia and the rest of the team down, not now they were so close to success.

They concealed the cages in the corridor and then headed up to the escape hatch.

With the sedative still in his system, it was a struggle to get to the top, but Ash pushed through the sluggish feeling that slowed him down. It would pass, and he didn’t have time for a nap.

“Damn! I can’t get it to budge again. You’ll have to do it,” Georgia said.

“I’m always happy to lend you my muscles.” Ash leaned on the lever to get the hatch open. It didn’t move.

“It looks like it’s in the open position, so it should lift up,” Georgia said.

Ash tested that theory by forcing the hatch up. It lifted a quarter inch before it wouldn’t move anymore. “The Siblet must have gotten wise to how we got out the last time. They’ve blocked it from the outside. We’re not getting out this way.”

“Then we’ll have to find another way out,” Georgia said. “We’re not dying in here, and I’m not leaving those animals behind to suffer anymore. The Siblet won’t beat me again.”

They shimmied back down the wall and out into the main corridor. The lights suddenly flicked off, and Ash tensed.

“That’s a bad sign,” Georgia whispered. “The Siblet must have collected everything they need and are on their way out.”

“Which means they’ve almost escaped,” Ash said.

“We can’t let that happen. You up for a run?”

“It’s what I need to get the rest of the drugs flushed out of my system. I’ll beat you to the entrance.”

“You can try. Those big muscles always slow you down.” Georgia darted away.

Ash was right behind her. “Be careful. There could be guards posted around here.” He remained right behind Georgia as they raced along the corridor, his senses on high alert for any Siblet, but they didn’t encounter a single alien. They must have decided on a swift exit.

They reached the main entrance of the cave and stopped.

“There’s a Siblet ship,” Georgia said.

He grabbed her arm. “I’m not so worried about the ship. I’m worried about those.” Four mutant beasts had noticed them and were heading their way.

“We’re not going back in the caves,” Georgia said. “Let’s keep running.”

They raced away from the cave in the opposite direction of the mutant beasts.

A few seconds later, the Siblet opened fire on them.

“Keep going,” Ash roared. “Head to those trees.” He wanted to stand and fight, but with the drugs in his system and no weapon, protecting Georgia was his main priority. A part of him hated not being able to fulfill his role as a warrior, but keeping Georgia safe was his focus. He just had to figure a way out of this. But at that moment, his mind was drawing a blank.